Assured Vantage Offers More Agency-Friendly Terms and No-Haggle, Structured
Incentive Schedule
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Sabre Travel Network announced
today the Assured Vantage program, a new contract offering for small to
medium-sized travel agencies in the U.S. who renew or sign new agreements to
use the Sabre global distribution system (GDS). The new program offers more
agency-friendly contract terms, such as reducing the risk of traditional
booking volume shortfalls, and introduces a new, simple incentive schedule.
“We are essentially bringing no-haggle pricing to our customers where
pricing has often been anything but transparent for them,” said Hugh Jones,
senior vice president of Sabre Travel Network, North America. “In addition,
we’re delivering flexibility and predictability, while reducing the risk
associated with traditional GDS contracts, as our agency customers have
requested.”
Key components of the Assured Vantage program include:
-- Volume booking commitments will no longer be required to participate
in the Sabre system. Instead customers will commit a percentage of
their GDS bookings to Sabre Travel Network.
-- Travel agencies can now select an incentive plan with no booking
volume commitments or related shortfalls, significantly reducing
travel agency risk.
-- Travel agencies will continue to have the option of receiving a
portion of their incentives as a signing bonus with an associated
low-risk booking commitment.
-- Message charges (also known as "Scan") will be eliminated for most
customers.
-- Incentive rates will be set based on a simple, structured table that
results in incentives based on volume, not negotiating skill or luck.
On average, incentives for 2004 contract renewals under the Assured
Vantage program will be approximately equal to the incentive value agencies
receive on their existing contracts. Existing agency contracts will be
honored until their expiration, although Sabre Travel Network will work with
any agency interested in transitioning to this new contract program early.
“The value Sabre Travel Network offers small to medium-sized agencies has
never been stronger,” Jones continued. “We’ve secured the lowest published
fares from all six major U.S. network airlines, and offer unmatched programs,
tools and technology to help agencies increase revenues and lower costs.”
Customers can find more information on the Assured Vantage Program by
visiting the Sabre Travel Network Website at www.sabretravelnetwork.com .
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the
world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) enabling agents at more than
53,000 agency locations worldwide to be travel experts. The Sabre GDS, the
first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel, today includes more
than 400 airlines, approximately 60,000 hotels, 41 car rental companies, nine
cruise lines, 36 railroads and 200 tour operators. Key brands of Sabre Travel
Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation
technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium
that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers
using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG) is a world leader in travel
commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology
solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is
available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com .
Statements in this release which are not purely historical facts,
including statements about the anticipated benefits of the Assured Vantage
program initiative or other statements about anticipations, beliefs,
expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-
looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are
based upon information available to Sabre Holdings Corporation on the date
this release was issued. Sabre Holdings Corporation undertakes no obligation
to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from the events or results described in the
forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to Sabre
Holdings Corporation’s efforts to control the growth of incentives. Sabre
Holdings Corporation may not succeed in addressing these and other risks.
Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial and
other results can be found in the risk factors section of Sabre Holdings
Corporation’s most recent filing on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
SOURCE Sabre Travel Network
-0- 02/25/2004
/CONTACT: Nanci Williams of Sabre Holdings Corporation, +1-682-605-2271,
or nanci.williams@sabre-holdings.com /
/Web site: http://www.sabretravelnetwork.com
http://www.sabre-holdings.com /
(TSG)
CO: Sabre Travel Network; Sabre Holdings Corporation
ST: Texas
IN: CPR MLM TRA LEI AIR
SU: PDT
JS-CD
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